Use in for something inside an area or a container, at for a point such as a door, a stop or a junction, and on for a surface such as a wall, a floor or a page.
A in: inside a space or an area
Use in when something is inside a space with limits, whether that space has walls or not.
| Enclosed spaces | Areas | Water |
|---|---|---|
| in a room | in a garden | in a pool |
| in a building | in a town | in the sea |
| in a box | in the city centre | in a lake |
- There's nobody in the kitchen / in the office / in the yard.
- What have you got in your pocket / in your bag?
- When we were in Scotland, we spent two nights in Inverness.
- My grandparents live in a tiny village in the Yorkshire Dales.
- There were some children paddling in the pool / in the sea / in the lake.
B at: a point or a place we think of as a point
Use at for a position we treat as a single point: at the bus stop, at the door, at the roundabout, at her desk, at the lights, at reception.
Compare in and at. In means inside the building or the space. At means the point itself, which is often where you are standing outside it, possibly in the rain.
- Who's that woman waiting at the bus stop / at the gate / at the window?
- Turn right at the traffic lights / at the next junction / at the pub.
- We need to get off the train at the next station.
- Please hand your pass in at reception before you leave. (= at the reception desk)
- There were far too many people in the café. It was packed.
- Carry on down this road, then turn left at the café.
- I'll wait for you in the station. (= inside the building)
- I'll wait for you at the entrance to the station. (= outside the building)
C on: a surface
Use on for a surface: on the wall, on the door, on the ceiling, on the floor, on the table, on her nose. We also say on a page and on an island.
Compare in and on: the tea is in the mug, and the logo is on the mug.
Compare at and on: somebody at the door is waiting to come in. A sign on the door is attached to it, and will wait considerably longer.
- We sat on the sofa / on the grass / on the sand / on a bench.
- There's a mark on the ceiling / on your cheek / on your jumper.
- Have you read the poster on the wall / on the noticeboard?
- The television listings are on page twelve of the paper.
- The cottage is on a small island off the coast of Wales.
- There's some milk left in the jug.
- There's a crack on the side of the jug.
- There's someone at the door. Can you see who it is?
- There's a sign on the door. It says "Wet paint".
Exercises
123.1 Read each scene and answer the question. Use in, at or on with the word in brackets.
A jar of jam has a sticker with the word "Strawberry" stuck to the glass.
Where's the sticker? (jar)
On the jar.
On the jar.
A wasp has landed on a man's leg, just above his knee.
Where's the wasp? (leg)
On his leg.
A lorry has stopped because the traffic lights in front of it are red.
Where's the lorry waiting? (traffic lights)
At the traffic lights.
A sheet of paper saying "Back in ten minutes" is taped to a shop door.
Where's the sign? (door)
On the door.
A clock is hanging above the fireplace in a living room.
Where's the clock? (wall)
On the wall.
A map shows the Colosseum marked in the middle of Rome.
Where's the Colosseum? (Rome)
In Rome.
A woman is standing next to the garden gate, waiting for the postman.
Where's the woman standing? (gate)
At the gate.
Two boys are building a sandcastle by the sea.
Where are the boys playing? (beach)
On the beach.
123.2 Complete the sentences. Use in, at or on and one of these.
the front windowher handthe Alpsthe oak treemy bikethe canalthe islandthe second roundabout
There were some swans swimming in the canal.
There were some swans swimming in the canal.
One of the brakes doesn't work.
One of the brakes on my bike doesn't work.
Go straight on at the first roundabout, then turn right .
Go straight on at the first roundabout, then turn right at the second roundabout.
She had something small , but she wouldn't show anybody what it was.
She had something small in her hand, but she wouldn't show anybody what it was.
The acorns are falling already.
The acorns on the oak tree are falling already.
You can go skiing from December to April.
You can go skiing in the Alps from December to April.
Nobody lives any more. The last family left in 1950.
Nobody lives on the island any more. The last family left in 1950.
My nan spends most of the afternoon sitting and watching the street.
My nan spends most of the afternoon sitting at the front window and watching the street.
123.3 Complete the sentences with in, at or on.
inaton
There was a long queue of people at the cash machine.
There was a long queue of people at the cash machine.
Rhys had a small tattoo his wrist.
Rhys had a small tattoo on his wrist.
Two police officers were standing the entrance to the stadium.
Two police officers were standing at the entrance to the stadium.
I wasn't sure I had the right house. There was no number the door.
I wasn't sure I had the right house. There was no number on the door.
There are lots of good cafés the old part of town.
There are lots of good cafés in the old part of town.
You'll find the crossword page thirty.
You'll find the crossword on page thirty.
The factory where my uncle works is Sheffield.
The factory where my uncle works is in Sheffield.
I couldn't be a receptionist. I'd hate sitting a desk all day.
I couldn't be a receptionist. I'd hate sitting at a desk all day.
The suspect has a tattoo of a snake his neck.
The suspect has a tattoo of a snake on his neck.
If you're coming by train, get off the stop after Bradford.
If you're coming by train, get off at the stop after Bradford.
Have you ever been sailing? Have you ever slept a boat?
Have you ever been sailing? Have you ever slept on a boat?
Grandad was sitting the patio, reading the paper.
Grandad was sitting on the patio, reading the paper.
My cousin lives a little town the north of Scotland.
My cousin lives in a little town in the north of Scotland.
I love that mirror hanging the wall the hall.
I love that mirror hanging on the wall in the hall.